Philip Maddocks: Republicans complaining they were shut out of decision process

Friday

Feb 20, 2009 at 12:01 AMFeb 20, 2009 at 8:17 PM

Signaling a growing partisan rift in Washington, the Republican leadership, fresh from its futile attempt to block passage of an economic stimulus package this month, broadened its criticism of Democrats, saying now that the rival party’s leaders had never consulted with them prior to the Nov. 4 elections and had shown no interest in pursuing any of their ideas.

Philip Maddocks

Signaling a growing partisan rift in Washington, the Republican leadership, fresh from its futile attempt to block passage of an economic stimulus package this month, broadened its criticism of Democrats, saying now that the rival party’s leaders had never consulted with them prior to the Nov. 4 elections and had shown no interest in pursuing any of their ideas.

"We had been led to believe that there would be a sincere effort at bipartisanship during the election, that our proposals would be taken seriously, by Democrats and the voters," said one Republican congressman. "But that never happened. If it had, I think there might have been a different result in November. And for that, I blame Democrats."

Despite the promise of an open debate during the long election season, Republicans are saying now that it was clear that Democrats had no intention of including Republicans in the final vote tally, as evidenced by the opposing party’s convincing victories in the presidential, House and Senate races last fall.

In the corridors of the Capitol Building yesterday, some rank and file members of the party could be heard openly wondering whether Republicans had been included on the November ballot at all.

"I’m not convinced the majority party wanted us in the race and I’m not convinced we were there," said one Republican congressman. "It’s too bad because this election could have been more bipartisan and our party could have been made more effective in some states with a little Democratic help."

Other GOP lawmakers could be heard complaining about the sudden disappearance of french fries — "freedom or otherwise" — from the cafeteria menu on the Capitol grounds. And there were grumbles about other "elitist" behavior such as the sudden preference for watching basketball games instead of NASCAR competitions.

Party leaders said their values, which mostly consisted of ways of keeping the Republican Party in power, were gradually being eroded by Democratic success. They said they had to take a stand at some point. After losing the legislative battle last week, they decided to make the November elections the focus for their stand on principle.

"If we’re going to spend all this money on elections, let’s at least get something Republican for it, provide some jobs for Republicans, things this country really needs," said one Republican senator.

Minority Leader John Boehner and other House Republicans slammed the November elections as "partisan" and full of excessive Democratic voting.

They complained that the Democratic leadership acted autocratically and without regard for the Republicans’ fragile state, in contrast to the Republican leadership, which as the newly anointed minority party, is now more than willing work across the aisles.

Mr. Boehner, who was attending a retreat with his fellow members, issued another missive today — invoking bipartisanship as the watchword, saying, "The vote last November — which wrested Republican control from the White House, House, and Senate — while convincing was not unanimous." And he warned that Democrats were already overstepping their authority by behaving as if they were in control.

"You’d think, by the way they are behaving, that winning a majority of the vote in November, and holding superior numbers in the House and Senate, somehow gave them the power to do what they want. I don’t get it," said Mr. Boehner.

"I don’t think this is what the voters had in mind when they voted them into office," he added.